Waiting on Wednesday: Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world.

There are few books this year that I am anticipating as much as Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo. Her previous Grisha trilogy was an amazing introduction to the Grishaverse, but she had me completely hooked with her newest tale from the Grishaverse – Six of Crows (published last year). We’re introduced to a motley cast of outcasts from wide swath of backgrounds whose lives get inextricably woven together. Think Oceans Eleven meets X-Men set in a fantasy and you’ve got the gist of the world Bardugo has created.

By the time I finished Six of Crows, I was pretty much begging and pleading for more. Fantastic narrative voices (huzzah for Bardugo’s ability to change viewpoints so beautifully), well developed diverse characters, action, action and more action and yes even some romance and magic. This isn’t your run of the mill fantasy series folks – this is serious world creation and storytelling talent at work.

Needless to say, I’ve been stalking all the websites waiting not so patiently for updates on the release of Crooked Kingdom to find out what happens next. If you haven’t read Six of Crows – do it. Go out and get a copy immediately. You won’t have long to wait for Crooked Kingdom – it is due to be released in September. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll be impatiently waiting just like me and so many others!

Hello fellow book lovers! Teen Lit Rocks is run by Sandie Chen, a professional book reviewer and film critic. Our contributors are all adult women (librarians, educators, mothers) hailing from across the U.S. and Canada who love to read YA. We support diversity in teen literature and can't wait to discuss our recommendations with you.